ahallada
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Dec 2006
Location: California
Posts: 1867 |
quote: Originally posted by Richard Lambert
Hyper.....hypo..... Oh my goodness, this is getting awfully complicated. Are we going to have to go back to school? I thought that the dog food companies paid smart people big bucks to figure this stuff out. Why are we paying such high prices if we have to turn around and buy additives to put in ourselves?
Nah you will be fine just trusting corporate america. lol There are so many factors that go into thyroid health in dogs and people. Hypothyroidism is very common in people today as well. Look at how much exposure we have to radiation today with our cell phones and other wireless devices on 24/7. Look at our life styles and the junk food we consume. I'd say hypothyroidism is more a lifestyle issue than it is a single problem in people. In dogs, genetic factors still have the most influence on thyroid health with most hypothyroid dogs having auto antibodies against their thyroid gland.
"Hypothyroidism in Dogs
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
Hypothyroidism is a common disease in dogs, but rarely occurs in
cats. The thyroid gland has a number of different functions, but it is
most well known for its role in regulating metabolism by
producing thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism is the condition that
occurs when not enough thyroid hormones are produced.
Hypothyroidism causes a wide variety of symptoms, but is often
suspected in dogs that have trouble with weight gain or obesity and
suffer from hair loss and skin problems. Hypothyroidism is easy to
diagnose with a blood test that checks the level of various thyroid
hormones including T4. Most hypothyroid dogs respond readily to
treatment with synthetic thyroid medication such as Soloxine.
Many dogs suffer from a low thyroid hormone level for years
without treatment. If your dog has chronic recurrent skin
problems, or unexplained weight gain, she may be suffering from
hypothyroidism.
What causes hypothyroidism?
The thyroid gland is a small gland that is situated close to the
larynx (voice box) in the neck. It is regulated by the small pituitary
gland that is located at the base of the brain. Normally, the pituitary
gland produces a hormone called TSH (thyroid stimulating
hormone). This hormone tells the thyroid gland to produce thyroid
hormone. The amount of TSH produced is dependent on the
amount of thyroid hormone in the blood. The pituitary gland
responds to the blood level of thyroid hormone by producing more TSH if the thyroid hormone level is low, and less TSH if
the thyroid hormone level is high.
Hypothyroidism results from the impaired production and secretion of thyroid hormones. More than 95% of all cases occur as
a result of destruction of the thyroid gland. Most hypothyroidism is due to thyroid gland destruction that is suspected to be
caused by the dog's own immune system killing the cells of the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism may also be a result of
atrophy of the thyroid tissue and resultant infiltration of the tissue by fat, or by a cancer. Hypothyroidism can also be
associated with the presence of other diseases and the use of certain medications. Rare cases of congenital hypothyroidism
have been diagnosed, as well.
Who gets hypothyroidism?
Although the onset of clinical signs is variable, hypothyroidism most commonly develops in
middle-aged dogs between the ages of 4 to 10 years. The disorder usually affects mid to large
size breeds of dogs, and is rare in toy and miniature breeds of dogs. Breeds that appear to be
predisposed to developing the condition include the Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher,
Irish Setter, Miniature Schnauzer, Dachshund, Cocker Spaniel, and Airedale Terrier. German
Shepherds and mixed breeds appear to be at a reduced risk of contracting the disease. There
does not appear to be a sex predilection but spayed females appear to develop it more often
than intact females.
What are the symptoms?
Thyroid hormones are needed for normal cellular metabolic function. A deficiency of thyroid
hormones affects the metabolic function of all organ systems. As a result, the symptoms are
usually variable and non-specific. There is not a specific symptom that is diagnostic for
hypothyroidism. There are, however, several symptoms that when combined together make
the veterinarian more suspicious of the likelihood of the animal having the disease. A study
on hypothyroid dogs revealed the following information on the variety and frequency of
symptoms seen with the disease.
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
There are several different tests used to diagnose hypothyroidism in the dog. The test chosen will depend on the symptoms and
the availability of different tests to your veterinarian.
Baseline T4 Test: The most common test run is the baseline T4 test. A blood sample is drawn and tested by
radioimmunoassay to determine the level of T4 thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. The T4 hormone is produced only in the
thyroid gland and dogs with a failure of the thyroid gland will have a lowered level of this hormone. However, there are other
conditions that can cause a lowering of T4 so if this screening test is positive for hypothyroidism another more specific test is
often done to confirm the diagnosis.
Free T4 by Equilibrium Dialysis: T4 is present in two forms in the body. The "bound" form is attached to proteins in the blood
and is unable to enter the cells. The "free" T4 is not attached to proteins, and can readily enter the cells and perform its
function. The free T4 is normally present in very small amounts. A special laboratory test - equilibrium dialysis - has been
designed that can quite precisely measure free T4.
TSH Level: This blood test measures the amount of TSH in the bloodstream. In a hypothyroid dog, the level will be elevated
because the body is trying to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormone. If the Baseline T4 and Free T4 by
Equilibrium Dialysis are low and the TSH is elevated, a diagnosis of hypothyroidism can be made.
TSH Response Test: If a dog has a low T4 level, this test may be performed to confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. A
small amount of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is injected into the vein. After 6 hours, a blood sample is drawn and the
T4 level is checked. A dog without thyroid disease that may have other conditions causing a low T4 will have a high T4 level
after the TSH injection. A dog with true hypothyroidism will not have an increase in T4 after the injection. "
As far as nutritional factors involved in thyroid disease in dogs, nothing has been really proven. Why does one dog on the same diet as 5 other dogs in the kennel develop hypothyroidism? Is this one dog sensitive to something in the diet that is causing the thyroid gland to suppress thyroid production? Does it set off the auto immune cascade in this dog that causes thyroiditis and hypothyroidism? Do pet foods have imbalances of effective and available iodine levels that is effecting thyroid hormone production? Lack of iodine as well as over excesses of iodine in dog food can both lead to problems with thyroid hormone production. Kelp and Salmon both have high levels of iodine as well as various grains. Removing grains from diets may have an impact on iodine levels in our dog foods today. Supplementing with iodine salts may not be the best quality since iodine salts tend to be unstable.
So many things we don't know yet.
Doc
__________________
Dr. Allen Hallada (Doc Halladay)
Current:
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(Gr.Nt.Ch. PKC Ch. Moonlight Aftershock x Gr.Nt.Ch. PKC Ch. Moonlight Outlaw Breanna)
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1989 Purina Outstanding Redbone Coonhound
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1994 US Redbone Days Opposite Sex
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2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 UKC World Champion Redbone Female
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2016 PKC Blue Ribbon Pro Hunt Winner - New Albany, MS
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Gr.Nt.Ch. Too the Maxx
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1992 National Redbone Days Champion
Gr.Ch.Nt.Ch. Ambraw River Rock
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1992 US Redbone Days Opposite Sex
Nt.Ch. Tree Bustin Annabelle
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Mother of Gr.Nt.Ch. Babb's Hazel
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Gr. Ch. Nt. Ch. Squaw Mountain Goldie
(Direct Daughter of Gr.Nt.Ch.Smokey Mountain Brandy)
1990 Autumn Oaks Best of Show Winner
1988 Indiana State Champion
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